A new study conducted by a team at the University of Catania in Italy is diving into the effects of e-cigarettes on those who have been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The research showed positive signs for harm reduction and better health for test subjects over a period of 24 months.

This is good news for vapor advocates who have been relying mostly on anecdotal evidence to gain support for their cause. 

The Study 

To examine the effects of vaporizers and e-cigarettes on patients with COPD, the researchers set up several benchmark tests. First, they looked at flare-ups of COPD-related symptoms and their frequency. Next they looked at the individual's ability to perform physical activities that are known to cause complications for those with COPD.  

Throughout the study, researchers compared three groups of individuals with COPD: those who have switched to vaping 100% of the time, those who have switched to vaping but occasionally smoke cigarettes, and those who have continued to smoke full time.  

They checked in at both the 12 month and 24 month marks to see how each patient was doing at these benchmarks. 

The Results

The study showed promising results for those who switched to vaping, even if they only switched to vaping part time. At the 12 month mark, all patients who were using a vaporizer scored better on physical activity and had reduced signs of COPD flare-ups.

At the 24 month mark, the vapers had continued to improve even further. By contrast, there was no change in the control group of smokers at either time benchmark. 

What it Means

Ultimately we will need more research on the subject to definitively prove that vaporizers can be a boon for those with COPD. However, this study goes a long way toward proving that there is at least some harm reduction benefit with e-cigarettes, even for those who only give up cigarettes part time.

This evidence supports the many anecdotal studies of those with COPD who have reported a boost in physical stamina and lung capacity after making the switch to vaping.

The researchers also noted that even in those who continued to smoke part time, the amount of smoking and vaping that was done was significantly reduced from the amount that the patients reported smoking in the past.

With so much research focusing on COPD and asthma, this is one of the first big studies to provide measurable feedback on the improvements that vapers who suffer from COPD experience over a longer stretch of time. While many other studies have only considered three-, six- and 12-month timelines, this 24-month research shows that improvements continue over that length of time.